Old BBC Persuasion

Well, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised by the older adaption. I was quite prepared for it to be as painful as P&P1 was to me after P&P2. Now please don't mistake me, Persuasion2 will always be my favorite adaption (at least second to P&P2) but this version could have been much worse. Once you get over the indoor sets liking similar to 'Dark Shadows' and the lack of vibrancy in the colors, it will be smooth sailing. These are my stream of conscious thoughts. . . I must admit I kept wishing that he cast from Per2 had been given this four hour opportunity especially those scenes after THE LETTER with Anne and Wentworth. Anne really grew on me but the rest of the casting left a lot to be desired. The Crofts in this version are OK but no where near as endearing and delightful as Per2. Lady Russell is OK and ironically, Mary is much more of a menace in this version than Elizabeth. Mary is truly a wench whom you will want to slap some sense into her head. Sir Walter is still ridiculous but the on in Per2 wins hands down. Having naval officer without naval uniforms was quite a let down. The customs were not good. The mens' hats were covered in velour or some fuzzy material that looked ridiculous. Louisa's fall was quite funny. I didn't know whether the camera man fell or the editor had a twitch. In comparison, this version was much more faithful to the novel. And as I said, the scenes after the reconciliation were very enjoyable. Overall I would say that this was a good adaption but I wou d still refer people to Per2 but to more hardcore Austen fans, I would also recommend this version - at least to rent maybe not to buy.

I'd love to know about the difference in budgets between the old an new adaptations, equalized in today's pounds. What would be your guess? The old ones cost a fourth to make -- even less?

I will confess that I have not finished watching Persuasion yet, but when has having only partial information ever stopped me? ;-) I agree with Karen above that this Mary is much worse than P2's. Sophie Thompson's Mary was annoying and I wanted to smack her, but she was funny too...this one is down-right ugly in her words and actions...I don't want to smack her, I want to drop a house on her! "Ding, dong, the witch is dead!" (sorry) And what is it about Anne's hair?! It gives new meaning to the term "Big Hair!" Does she have small furry animals living up there? And why do they not get nosebleeds? This Anne doesn't seem to have the same sense of melancholy as Amanda Root's did. She seems too happy unless someone mentions his name and then she looks pensive for a moment, displaying even more wrinkles then before (how old is this chick anyway?!) but then she's ok again. I do like seeing the additional scenes, I liked the "Poor Richard" scene, but some additions are just padding...like the "long walk"--good grief is it "long!" I thought, do we need to go every step of the way with them? Sorry...I'm in a whiney mood I guess! I'm at the point just before Louisa's fall at Lyme. I'll try to keep quiet til I see the rest! ;-)

Sorry...I'm in a whiney mood I guess! I'm at the point just before Louisa's fall at Lyme. I'll try to keep quiet til I see the rest! ;-) Whine away Cheryl. And while you're at it, don't you wonder how ANYONE could even consider this Louisa Musgrove as a possible wife? She is by far the most annoying character I've come across in any Austen adaptation.

Myretta: don't you wonder how ANYONE could even consider this Louisa Musgrove as a possible wife? She is by far the most annoying character I've come across in any Austen adaptation. She is extremely annoying during the loooooong walk, "O Captain, catch me, catch me! It's so high!" *smack* I know they're setting us up for the fall at the Cobb, but please... (My, how quickly I break my promises!)

I thought that the person who played Louisa was very annoying, but I did like the one who played Mary. Anne was okay, but she looked like a Mary Tyler Moore wannabe. I thought Admiral Croft too old, and Sophie not likable as Fiona Shaw made her to be in P2. Just one question? Why would it flip flop from tape to film?

Amy2 can probably explain the budgetary reasons better then any of us, but I think for the time and the production facilities the BBC found it cheaper to do the interiors in video and exteriors on film.

I agree with those of you who think Louisa is annoying. My goodness, she is that and more. I kept thinking she is so ditsying why would Fredrick be paying attention to this dumb, silly girl. It might have been different if she were very pretty and silly but this poor girl was just silly. I also thought is was interesting that the writers had our lovers kiss at the end. It made for a nice ending.

Karen: I also thought is was interesting that the writers had our lovers kiss at the end. It made for a nice ending. Yeah, but didn't her hair get in the way? (sorry...I shall conquer this!)

Karen: I also thought is was interesting that the writers had our lovers kiss at the end. It made for a nice ending. Yeah, but didn't her hair get in the way? (sorry...I shall conquer this!)

Cheryl, you are terrible. So glad I didn't have food or drink around me or I would have choked (again). You are quite slick.

The Crofts were not has endearing,I thought if Louisa would giggle one more time,I'd scream!! Anne looked like the older of the three,but the person who did the best job was the man who played Capt. Wentworth.He presented himself as everything amiable,but I thought what Karen said he would never be interested in such a silly girl.

Maybe the adapters took the Crofts at their word about the captain's suseptibility. They should have done a focus group with the likes of us to learn what was in his heart.

I think you right Amy,because that Louisa was just too silly and you knew he would never want to marry her anyway. Louisa in Persuasion 2 was more what I thougt Louisa should be and you could see that he might want to marry her. I think JA wants us to believe that he just might.

Karen: You are quite slick. Nyah! Just a smartass! Ask anyone! ;-)

Karen: You are quite slick. Cheryl:Nyah! Just a smartass! Ask anyone! ;-) Ask me.

Speaking of smartasses........;-)

I own this version, and I really enjoy it. I know that Anne's hair is not all that great and she looks a liitle old, but I still like it. I love the fact that they use Wentworth's voice all the way through the letter.Sighhhhhhhhhhhhh! I love the letter!

Kim, do you love the letter or really love the letter, pray tell.

Cheryl, I prefer to think of you as quick witted (not a smartass.) Kim, I understand your enjoyment of this version. I am thinking of getting it myself. And the letter is fantastic!

I ordered it last week. I couldn't take it anymore. I am so tired of not being able to find the BBC/Masterpiece Theater type sutff at the video store. I looked everywhere for this P1, but I just couldn't stand it any longer and I had to order. I hope I haven't ruined it for myself by reading all your comments. No, I think not. I am even more excited. Is there no Henrietta?

Since Cheryl started Give Elizabeth a different dress, day after day, scene after scene, the same dress...!?!? It's not like it was all that pretty to start with.

Mich: Since Cheryl started Ah, let the bitch-fest begin! ;-)

#19 Kim, yes, the letter was great in the old BBC version. Delivered with feeling and easy to understand. But then Anne had to ruin it with her dorky "Frederick, Frederick!" Really, I like it, too, and have watched it a couple of times. It's on loan to another Austen-lover as we speak.

Ok, ladies, I have finished it and now may bitch with a clear conscience! ;-) I agree with those who said they loved the way the letter was done. The man playing Frederick read it with real feeling, and certainly made my heart flutter to hear it...I also liked when he joined Anne and (chipmunk) Charles-- he kind of walks sideways looking at Anne to see if it is ok to join them, he has such an expression of hope in his eyes, and the suffusion of joy upon his countenence when he received an affirmative was very nicely done. I did not care for this Frederick at first (my mind was more agreeably engaged with Mr. Hinds!) but he did grow on me. Anne, however never did. Someone said something about there being something wierd about her face...it's her mouth I think. there's an amazing overbite and a bit of a lisp when saying "Frederick, Frederick!" The only time she let loose and laughed was actually a scary moment...(I know, I'm bad!)

Someone said something about there being something wierd about her face...it's her mouth I think. And her hair, Cheryl. It looked almost wild!

Cheryl now that you've seen the entire video, wouldn't it have been great if the cast of Per2 had been given four hours and we could have those last scenes with Root and Hinds.

Karen: Cheryl now that you've seen the entire video, wouldn't it have been great if the cast of Per2 had been given four hours and we could have those last scenes with Root and Hinds. Yes, yes, yes! They would have done so much better. I would have preferred seeing that than the horrible "announcement" in P2! Ugh!

Are you all talking about the 1971 Persuasion with Ann Firbank?? I thought it was awful! I mean, the story is great, of course, but the adaptation was rife with flaws. Aside from the upholstery-like costumes, the 60s (almost beehive, occasionally) hairdos, and the awful sets, whenever they *did* go outside, I kept expecting John Cleese to burst through the shrubbery! There were lots of details that drove me nutty, too. Like when Admiral Croft comes in to visit Mary and just plops down on the sofa while his hostess stands before him! (I suppose I should be grateful he removed his hat!) I agree with Cheryl's assertion that Anne is too cheerful. For someone who is as isolated as Anne, she took IMO far too much amusement from the goings-on around her. Root did a much better job. BTW, Ann Firbank seemed very familiar to me. Does anyone know if she has played any other roles in the more recent JA adaptations? I did a web search on her name and came up with only one other role for her-- on Space 1999!